“Life…some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but I’ve had a good life all the way.” —Jimmy Buffett
I was scrolling through the Nextdoor website, when I came across a woman looking for a bakery that was known for its Banana Cream Pies. I chuckled because I had just finished baking a Coconut Banana Cream Pie for six unbelievable ladies here in Ben Lomond who were having brunch as my guests that very late afternoon.
A week prior, a dear friend, Tina Noland, stopped by my home on her way to the Plant Works nursery where she was meeting up with a group of her friends to give owner, Tom Connelly, a helping hand. I learned from Tina that Tom has been battling a serious illness, and his nursery was suffering, as well as Tom was overwhelmed with his illness and the need to maintain his nursery’s plant stock.
These six women, none are as my uncle called “Spring Chickens,” worked diligently during the heat we have been experiencing, rallied together and took on the job of pulling weeds, raking, clearing, loading piles for the dump and watering.
Taking directions by email from their leader, Tracy Goyette, a United Airlines flight attendant who was in Singapore at the time, were Mia Bosser, Carol Stephen, Linda Deal, Lori Noell, Tina Noland and Ed Titus who worked until their job was completed.
Thinking about this, and physically unable, myself, to help, I decided to treat these ladies to a luncheon, complete with a Coconut Banana Cream Pie.
I decided to invite my good friends Rosemary Chalmers (Rosie), host of Good Morning Monterey Bay on Boulder Creek radio station KBCZ, along with Coco Raner-Walter, director of the Highlands Park Senior and Community Center, to join this fabulous group of “helping hands.” Even though Rosie and Coco were not part of this group, both women have and continue to contribute so much to our beautiful San Lorenzo Valley communities, and beyond.
The newly formed Ben Lomond Village Alliance organization, as I remember attending its first meeting in the little library across from the market, was headed by another friend of mine, Ronnie Trubec. This organization, along with Ronnie and so many other helping hands have worked diligently to build and brighten up our wonderful community.
I have always said, “One person alone is on a walk, while two persons together are going somewhere.”
Twenty years ago, my sweet Hubby and I chose to live here in Ben Lomond, it was not by accident. The choice was a great one and I have worked long and hard to help others in this wonderful town as all my friends I have made here do as well.
This beautiful “helping hands” group of women have not stopped with their one-time visit to the Plant Works, but have returned to water those plants through this hot spell we are experiencing. And I am sure that the Ben Lomond Village Alliance has more events in store for us here in our town.
Helping hands…it just doesn’t get any better than that!
Coconut Banana Cream Pie
Crust:
• One box of Nilla Wafers (80 wafers) ground fine.
• 1/3 cup of melted butter
Mix together and dump into a 9-inch Pie Plate.
Bake in a preheated 375deg. oven for 15 min. Let cool completely before filling. (I put in freezer for 1/2 hour, then fill.)
Filling:
• 2 cups 1/2 & 1/2 cream
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup gran. sugar, divided.
• Pinch of salt
• 7 egg yolks
• 1/3 cup corn starch
• 4 Tbsp. butter
• 2 ripe bananas sliced ¼ in. thick.
Directions:
1. In a saucepan combine the cream, 1/2 cup of the sugar, vanilla and salt. Heat until mixture comes to a boil.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks, remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and cornstarch until smooth.
3. In a bowl, very slowly add 1/2 cup of boiling cream to egg mixture while whisking quickly and then add this tempered egg mixture to rest of cream. Cook until very thick and bubbling. Pour into a bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap placed directly on the surface of the mixture.
4. Refrigerate until cold.
5. In cold crust, spread 3 Tbsp. of chilled pudding over surface and then thinly slice and spread bananas over this filling. Finish by adding the rest of the pudding over the bananas and refrigerate.
Topping:
Add whipped cream to pie and then add 1/2 cup toasted coconut. Chill.
Colly Gruczelak, a Ben Lomond resident, loves people and loves to cook. Contact her at cz****@*****st.net.
